I wasn’t holding out too much hope for Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp’s new film the Tourist. From the trailers it looked like the film was simply a vehicle to bring two of the most bankable stars in Hollywood together to make a quick buck. But, after seeing a preview earlier this week, I was pleasantly surprised.
Frank (Johnny Depp) meets the breathtakingly gorgeous Elise (Angelina Jolie) on a train from Paris to Venice. The pair flirt over dinner, and Frank thinks his luck is in when Elise invites him back to her hotel room on their arrival in Venice. However, the next morning, Frank awakens to find two Russian thugs in the room, attempting to murder him, and the police chasing him through the canals of the city. Who is Elise, and what does she have to do with all of this? Frank will have to find out.
With oodles of old Hollywood glamour, two of the most famous faces in the world bring us a thoroughly entertaining romp-turned-spy thriller, with twists and turns that leave you wanting more. It’s filled with in-jokes, at both Angelina and Johnny’s expense, and works well. Paul Bettany is brilliant as Inspector Acheson, we should see him in more films.
The downside? Johnny Depp shouldn’t be given roles where he plays an awkward math teacher, because we all know he is anything but. So, the films’ realism is left at the door as soon as you hear him tell Jolie his occupation. You also can’t help but be a bit disappointed he didn’t say pirate and then do a little Jack Sparrow jig.
Jolie, meanwhile, saunters across the screen as a glamazon. An ‘idea’ force fed to the audience by having men literally fall at her feet. I mean really. As if we didn’t already know Angelina Jolie is gorgeous. If anything, this just led to me being genuinely irritated by her presence. Jolie has also given her character the stiffest stance we’ve ever seen. Perhaps she feels all English women stand this way. Some of us hunch, Angelina.
So, with these two completely opposite characters bumping into one another throughout the film, when one of them whispers “I love you” towards the end, I actually found myself chortling. Not only is it cheese on toast, it also seems completely unlikely seeing as there hasn’t been an ounce of chemistry for two whole hours.
Don’t get me wrong, The Tourist isn’t all bad. The script isn’t brilliant, but Angelina and Johnny do what they can with it. It’s entertaining, funny at points, and worth a see. Just don’t hold your hopes too high.
3 out of 5 stars.
The Tourist is released in cinemas tomorrow.
Who else would you like to see paired up on the big screen? Here's our list.
